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to the start of each of the books of the register as follows:BillingsleyVol. I.Vol. II.

The Register of
Billingsley.

Billingsley Registers.

BILLINGSLEY is a parish about six miles south of Bridgnorth, in the diocese of Hereford, archdeaconry of Ludlow, and rural
deanery and hundred of Stottesdon. Its area is 1,302 acres; and its population, which in 1826 was 176, at the census of
1891 had dwindled to 111. In 1676 there were 70 " Conformists " above the age of 16 at Billingsley. It appears from the
Register that the opening of a colliery here about 1796 brought many colliers from the north of England to Billingsley.
Judging by the number of entries, the population in 1796 onwards must have more than doubled.

This account is inaccurate, as there is an earlier Register extant, which extends from 1625 to 1733. It consists of 19
parchment leaves, 12 inches by 9, in very bad condition, and much faded through damp. Many leaves have been cut out, at
least 13 or 14 at the beginning, and 3 at the end of the volume. There was originally a parchment cover, but only the back
of this now remains.

The second Register, which extends from 1739 to 1812, is a quarto book of 40 parchment leaves, 10 inches by 8, in a
leather cover. It is in good condition and well written. A number of blank leaves have been cut out in the middle of this
volume. The marriages from 1761 to 1812 are entered at the end of this Register.

No families of any great importance are entered in the Registers. That of Dallow is styled " Mr. " whilst the families of
Hotchkis. Harley, Rea. &c., are also of interest.

Billingsley at the Domesday Survey was one of the 18 berewicks which were members of the manor of Morville; it contained
11 hides, and was held by Earl Roger de Montgomery, who granted it to the Abbey of Shrewsbury. About 1147 it passed from
Shrewsbury Abbey to the Norman Abbey of Seez, by virtue of a composition. The knightly family of Beysin long held it under
Seez. From the Beysins it passed by marriage to the families of Morehall, Clopton, and Harewell successively.

Billingsley Church was originally a chapel subject to Morville, and it was founded and endowed temp. Stephen, by Herbert
de Castello, lord of Castle Holgate. The old Church is figured in Eyton's Antiquities, i. 66. The present Church, which is
dedicated to St. Mary, is a stone building in the Early English style, and consists of chancel, nave, south porch, and
bell-turret containing two bells. It was rebuilt in 1875, at the cost of about £1,000. Lord Barnard is lord of the manor
and patron of the rectory. By an Order in Council dated 12th December, 1874, the benefices of Billingsley and Sidbury were
united, and have since been held together.

The patronage of the rectory has frequently changed hands. In 1623, Bonham Norton, esq., presented; in 1632, the Bishop of
Hereford; in

iv BILLINGSLEY REGISTERS.

1662, Sir George Horton, knight; in 1659. Richard Creswell, esq.; in 1677. the Bishop of Hereford; in 1679, Sir George
Norton, Bart. More recently the patronage passed to the Earls of Shrewsbury and the Dukes of Cleveland, and from them to
Lord Barnard.

In 1322, Feb. 27. Ralph Sagon, priest, was presented to the rectory by the Abbot and Convent of Salop.

In 1350, Walter parson of Billingsley occurs.

The following is a list of the Rectors of Billingsley, during the period covered by the Registers:-

The following is a list of the Curates that occur in the Registers: John Pierce, 1673-6; Ralph Woolley, 1716-30; John
Reynolds, 1739-40; William Dalton, 1741; Lancelot Taylor, 1746-51; John Lewis, 1752-3; W. Parry, 1754; Thomas Edwards,
1755; Edmund Pryce, 1757; John Purcell, 1759-86; Robert Edwards, 1806-8; Samuel Burrows, 1822; John Fevrall, 1825; John
Janes, 1828; William David, 1847; William Lewis Jones, 1851.

Dr. Thomas Hyde, the orientalist, professor of Arabic and Hebrew at Oxford, and Bodleian Librarian, was born at
Billingsley 29 June, 1636, and baptized 24 July. He was son of Ralph Hyde, rector, and died 12 Feb., 1702-3. (See Dict.
Nat. Biog.. xxviii., 401-2.)

The Registers were copied by Mr. T.R. Horton, and the transcript has since been collated with the original registers, and
the proofs passed through the press, by the Rev. W.G.D. Fletcher, F S.A. They are here printed by the kind permission of
the Rev. John Lewis Williams, the present rector of Billingsley.

W. G. D. FLETCHER.
March. 1901.

Billingsley Parish Registers.

VOLUME I.

[At the commencement of this Register several leaves have been cut off, possibly 13 or 14.]

1656, Sep. 18. Rachel Barker ... bur.
1655, Aug. 9. John Smeeths, the father of Robert Smeeths ... bur.
Thomas, s. of Thomas Angel, of ye p. of Stotesdon, & Sarah Morris, ye d. of Elizabeth Morris, of ye p. of Billingsley, were Published three Sabbath daies, December the 14th, the 21th, & 28th, & Married the Tuesday following, in the year 1656.
1657, Sep. 18. Elinor, d. of Solomon Humphreys & Ann ... born.
" Nov. 2. Mary, d. of Thomas Angel & Sarah ... born.
" Mar. 30. Katherin, d. of William Bateman & Margery ... born.
Gathered towards the re-building of ye p'ish Church of High Erchal, by the Church Wardens & Overseers of the poore, Aug. 1, in ye year 1658, the sum of 5s. 1d.
Gathered towards a briefe for fire in Wealch Poole, Aug. 29, 1658, in Sudbury & Billingsley, the su' of three shillings & nyne pence - 3s. 9d.
1658, Oct. 21. Robert Smeeths ... bur.
Gathered towards the re-building of the Church of Oswestree, in ye p'ish of Billingsley, October 21, 1658, the sume of 4s. 11d. Is given to Justic Lee.
1659, May 17. William, s. of John Myles & Ellenor ... bur.
" Feb. 13. George Wilmore, deceased.
1660, Aug. 27. Marie Humphryes ... bap.

[The above two entries are in the margin].

1659, May 23. Elizabeth Morris, wid. ... bur.
" Feb. 11. George Willmot, died or deceased the 10th day of February, & was buried ye 11th in ye year 1659.
1660, Aug. 27. Mary, d. of Solomon Humphreys & Ann ... bap.
Gathered by the Churchwarden of Billingsley towards the rebuilding of the Church of Condover, Mch. 24th, 1660, in ye 13th year of ye King Charls ye Second, his Raign, by Letters Patents, the sume of sixe shillings and six pence.
1661, Apr. 1. John, s. of William Rea & Hannah ... bap.
Left in the hands of Abraham Oliver, June the fifth, 1661, A Brief for the inhabitants of the Town of Emeley-Casfle, in the County of Worcester, to be collected and Registred in this book, which I give to him, beinge Church-warden.

These to certifie all who' it may concern that upo' 27 day of March, Anno Dom'i, 1670. Ri: Eaton, Rector of Bilingsley, did, in the p'ish Church of Billingsley aforsd., read all ye service required to be read in the booke infituld, the booke of Common prayer, and administracon of ye Sacra: acknowleginge his assent & consent thereto, &c.; And also at Easter folowinge did read the 39 Articles agreed upo' by the Arch-Bishop, &c., in the presence of

[Here follows a memorandum, which is much faded through damp, and can now only partly be made out].

John Darrall
of Billingsley
Order prsent. directed by ye Book intituled The Booke of
Common Prayer[-]ye Sacramts. & other Rites & Ceremonies of ye Church of England[-]together wth. ye Psalter or Psalms of David, printed as they are to be[-]ye Forme or manner of making & Ordaining of Bps., Priests, & Deacons[-] (according to ye Statute), read ye 39 Articles of Religion

Prayers & before ... was ... as also in them & theire Real & C
ye hand & seale of Herbert Ld. Bp, of Hereford, testifying his [-] subscription and[-]of Parliament, as or ackwledgmt, in & by ye said Aet of [-].

The Revd. Thos. Lyster (Brent Street, Hendon, Middlesex), was inducted into the Parish Church of Billingsley, on Sunday, ye 15 of June, 1777, with all the Rights and apurtenances there unto belonging, by me, JOHN PURCELL, Curate of the same.

... Holloway, a Cooper at Billingsley, had the permission of the Rector to put up a small pew at his own expence, & with his own materials, in the Chancel; but was informed at the time that the permission of the then Incumbent could extend to his own life only, July 10th, 1809.

N.B.- From the year above-written, 1747, untill the year 1753, there has been no regular Register kept in this Parish. Therefore Recourse must be had to Hereford, notwithstanding there were some loose Registry carelessly pin'd to the leaves of the Book, which I inserted acc'dg, to their annual order.